Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-10-14
A JAPANESE LOVE STORY.

At one end Of the long street form
ing the village Of Morioka, in Japan,
stood the low thatched cottage in
which the sisters O-Suba and Niya
lived with q widowed aunt. Their
father had fall,n 10 battle, and bis
wife soon followed him TO the grave,
committing her children to the care
of their only remaining relative,
O-Suba, the elder, was a brunette
with sparkling black eyes and white
teeth that shown between full, ruddy
lips. She was taller than Niya, who
was fair and slight, with mild blut
eyes and O soft voice.
For over a year O.Suba had beer
betrotbed to Kampei, tie son of 8
neighboring farmer. Their parents
had arranged the matter. Though il
was not made formal by an exchange
of presents, the young people regard
ed it as settled: and the marriage was
deferred only until Kampei returned
from campaign against rebel
prince, in which he was to follow
his lord, his father being too old tc
take the field.
When the young man called on the
sisters in order to say adieu, he was
mortified by O.Suba's manner, which
seemed to show that she regarded
his absence as reprieve; and his face
betrayed his feelings.
"Do not look thus, good Kampei,
before your commander" she said
laughingly. "He will think you a
coward. Go and win booty and
core back covered with glory. Who
would not be soldier rather than a
mean farmer?" she said with ANNA
ton. "a warrior is a gentleman,
has his pocket fall Of bright silver
and is esteemed by his lord. Go,
Kampei; shall despise you if you
hesitate"
Kampei was stung by her tones
and rose hastily. A deep sigh reach
ed him, and on turning around he
say hiya sitting in a corner of the
room, her face buried in the loose
sleeves of Eer robe.
"Farewell, Niya," he said,
A sob rose in the girls throat as
she replied, Farewell, Kampei.
And remember" she faltered, that
if anything occurs TO you, I've
shall be broken hearted"
"You will not forget me, 0-Suba !?
1t will cheer ne to know that
Il shall not forget you" she said
impatiently; and the young man left,
catching a glance as be closed the
garden gate of o -Suba waving a gay
adieu, and Of Niya with her taee hid
den in her hands.
One day, o fey 4onthg after Kam-
pei's departure, his mother called at
the cottage, and after relating pitt
full tale of bad harvests, poverty and
debt, said that her husband, who was
in feeble health, would be sent to. pris-
on if she could not get eighty riyos.
and she begged 0-Suba, as her sons
betrothed, to at least lend that SUM
to her. O-Suba treated the poor wo-
man harshly, refused the money and
reminded her visitor that as presents
ar2 not vet exchanged their marriage
must not be regarded ns certain.
Niya in vain urged her aunt TO ap-
pIv q norton of her little fortune to
the. farmer's geliof Fer relatives
were obdurate, and the old woman
was going away sadly, when the
younger girl sprang up, thrust her
feet into her sandals aud hurried af-
ter the visitor, overtaking her before
she reached the gate.
"When must you have the money!"
she askel.
"Within three days, Niya."
"You shall have it," said the girl;
aud escaping from the thanks and
blessings Of the old woman, she re-
turned to the house. She threw her
self on the mat in corner, clasped
her hands and puckered her brow
thoughtfully.
Suddenly she uttered joyous cry.
The screens were drawn back, leav-
ing the whole front of the house
open, anh Niya saw G pair of swal-
lows ly into the room and perch on
the space between the walls and the
ceiling, chirping and chattering to,
gether busily.
"See, sister, the pretty birds are
going to build; good fortune will be
ours. Sh-h-h! Dear O-Suba, do
MOI disturb them !" and she laid her
hand implorlngiy On her sisters arm
as O-Suba laughed at her enthu.
siasm
Niya sat there eagerly watching
tie movements of the birds and their
many fights 10 aud &c while build.
ing their nest.
Her relative went out soon after
and &iya, after long look at the
still busy swallows, dressed herself
and went out, too. When O.Suba
and her aunt returned Niya was not
at home and it was long before they
saw her face.
When the army TO which kampei
belonged was disbanded his comrades
gave themselves up to revelry, while
he, eager to see O-Suba and anxious
to see about his parents, of whose
trolbles ne had heard, fastened home
ward
He was within a short days jour
ney of his native village, when tow
ard sunset he reached tea house
bearing on one Of the posts the sigr
"Chaya of the Verdant Cherry Bios
som.H Iha sctecns forming the from
were thrown back, showing tht
whole inside Of the house, divided in
to apartments by movable partitions
and in one of the rooms number o
gentlemen retainers" sat drinking
their songs reaching the paSsors u
mingled with the noise Of their quar-
rels,
AS Kampei cast away, outside th'
veranda, his dusty sandals some o
the female attendants ran out to NEE